International Students and Scholars with an Expired or with No Foreign Drivers License

If you do not have a driver’s license from your country or it has expired you must obtain a Florida drivers license to legally drive in the United States. You will be required to complete the same steps that all new drivers applying for a Florida Drivers must complete including:

DATA course - teaches the effects of drugs and alcohol and your ability to drive. Can be done all online

DMV Test - written test on rules, regulations, and road signs of Florida. Must be done at a DMV office if you are 18 or older.

Road Test - driving test with a DMV examiner. Done at a DMV office

Vision Test

Florida DMV Required Course Information

This is a 4-hour online course that covers topics on how drugs and alcohol affect your driving, and laws and responsibilities as a driver. The Online Course can be completed in as many sessions as you like - just login and logout.

Step by Step

Step 2: Study the Florida Drivers Handbook on traffic laws and roads sign. If you are age 18 or older you will need to go to a DMV office to pass the Permit Exam with a score of 80% or better. This exam is only available at DMV offices once you are age 18 or older. If you are age 15, 16, or 17 you can take the Permit Exam online.

Step 3: Pass the DMV Test (AKA Permit Test)

Once you complete both the 4 hour DATA Course and pass the Permit Exam you can receive a Learners Permit that allows you to practice driving. You must have someone age 21 or older in the passenger seat next to you with a valid driver license at all times with a Learners Permit.

Learners Permit or Class E Drivers License If you are age 18 or older you can get your Florida driver license immediately or as soon as you are comfortable driving. If you are age 15 to 17 you must get a learners permit and have it for 12 months before taking the road or as soon as you turn age 18 you can get a drivers license.

Step 4: Once you are comfortable driving make an appointment to take the Driving Road Test at a DMV office. Once you pass the Road Test then you can receive a Florida drivers license.

International Students and Scholars with a valid Foreign Drivers License

Foreign Students with a valid drivers license from their country of origin are NOT required to take the DATA course to get their Florida Drivers License. You must do the following:

Pass the DMV Test - written test on rules, regulations, and road signs of Florida. Must be done at a DMV office if you are 18 or older.

Exceptions: Florida waves the requirement for both the DMV test (written test) and Road Test if you have a valid drivers license from: US Military, US Territories, Canada, France, Germany, Taiwan, South Korea.

Step by Step

Step 1: Study the Florida Drivers Handbook on traffic laws and roads sign. If you are age 18 or older you will need to go to a DMV office to pass the Permit Exam with a score of 80% or better. This exam is only available at DMV offices once you are age 18 or older. If you are age 15, 16, or 17 you can take the Permit Exam online.

Step 2: Pass the DMV Test (AKA Permit Test)

Once you complete both the 4 hour DATA Course and pass the Permit Exam you can receive a Learners Permit that allows you to practice driving. You must have someone age 21 or older in the passenger seat next to you with a valid driver license at all times with a Learners Permit.

How to Apply for a Florida Identification Card

If you do not want a drivers license and only want to obtain a Florida identification card then it is much easier since you do not have to complete a driving course or pass tests. You are not allowed to drive with Florida ID card.

Documents to Bring to DMV

To obtain a Florida drivers license or Identification Card (ID card) with F-1 (student visa) or J-1 (non-immigrant visa issued to research scholars, professors, and exchange visitors) status you must go to a DMV office with the following five (5) types of documents:

Two (2) original proof of residence documents with your address on it such as cell phone bill, utility bill, residential lease, original transcripts from your college, an official letter from your college sent to your local address, or if you live on campus you can obtain a proof of residence from campus services

Valid Drivers License from Your Country – if you plan to get a Florida drivers license and you already have a drivers license from your country be sure to bring it. You may be exempt from having to complete Florida’s required course and tests if you have a valid drivers license from your country.

DMV Offices and Appointments

With Colleges and Universities all over the state of Florida you will want to go to the DMV office closest to your School. Below are the DMV offices closest to almost every university in Florida that offers the services International Students will need to get their Florida Drivers License or ID Card.

Florida has over 30,000 International Students in colleges and universities from FSU in Tallahassee and UF in Gainesville to Broward College in Pembroke Pines and UCF in Orlando.

Frequently Asked Questions - Forms and Visas

Do I need a Social Security Number?

If you plan to work in the United States then you will need a Social Security Number. Social security numbers can also be used as a source of identification especially if you plan to apply for a Florida drivers license. To apply for a Social Security Number click here for details on what documents are required.

Do I need an International Driving Permit?

No, in Florida you are not required to have an International Driving Permit if you have a valid drivers license in your name from another country.

What is a Form I-20?

The I-20 Form is issued by a college, university or vocational school that is an approved Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP.) The Form I-20 is a Department of Homeland Security document also known as “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.”

Once a student is accepted into an education program the Form I-20 is issued by the school’s Designated School Official (DSO.) The prospective student uses this form to apply for a F visa or M visa at the United States consulate office in the student’s country. When a student enters the United States, they must have a valid passport, valid F or M student visa, and a signed I-20 Form.

What is a F-1 Visa?

The F-1 is a student visa that allows non-immigrant international students to attend full-time academic programs at schools, colleges and universities in the United States. You can apply for a F-1 Student Visa at a US Consulate in your country.

What is a M-1 Visa?

The M-1 is a student visa issued to non-immigrant international students that allows them to attend non-academic vocational type programs in the United States such as language programs, flight school, cosmetology programs, technical studies and other vocational programs.

The M1 status is valid for one (1) year but students can apply for extensions not to exceed three (3) years. You can apply for a M-1 Student Visa at a US Consulate in your country.

What is Form DS-2019?

The DS-2019 Form also known as “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor” is a Department of Homeland Security document that is required during the application process for a J-1 visa.

A designated sponsor must issue this form to a prospective exchange visitor who has been screened and accepted to participate in their exchange visitor program. The prospective student then uses the Form DS-2019 to apply for a J-1 visa at the US Consulate office in their country.

What is a J-1 Visa?

The J-1 is a non-immigrant visa issued to research scholars, professors, and exchange visitors participating in programs to promote cultural exchange typically for medical or business training. Applicants must be sponsored by a university, government program or private sector and meet eligibility criteria.

The J-1 visa expires when the program ends and the J-1 visitor is allowed to stay an additional 30 days before returning to their country.

What is Form I-94?

The I-94 Form is the Arrival-Departure Record that keeps track of when a non-US citizen or lawful permanent resident are entering and departing the United States by land, sea or air.

When you arrive to a port of entry the US immigration officer will determine whether to allow you to enter the United States after reviewing all your documents. If the officer approves your entry then they will either record a date on the Form I-94 that is your last day for staying in the United States or they will enter a D/S (duration of status) which allows you stay in the US legally as long as you continue your educational courses, are active in an exchange program, or a qualified employment.